Proposition

Still fuming over orders to stand in the background of a gubernatorial news conference while brush fires raged around the county, Burbank and Glendale fire departments came out in opposition Thursday to a ballot proposition they claim would stifle their political involvement. If approved by voters in the special Nov. 8 election, Proposition 75 would require unions representing public employees to get permission from members before spending dues for political purposes.

Lost among the statewide propositions concerning Indian gaming and the greater national race for the presidency of the United States is a little known proposed amendment to the state's Constitution known as Proposition 59. While it has been overshadowed by bigger and sexier campaigns, the truth is this initiative strikes a blow against those who would deny the people's right to know what government is doing. Proposition 59's passage would strengthen the Ralph M. Brown Act and the California Public Records Act and make it the state constitutional right for the public and journalists, acting on behalf of the public, to access governmental meetings and governmental documents.

Jon Coupal was among friends May 27 when he was the guest speaker at a Laguna Beach Taxpayers Assn. meeting. Coupal is the president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Assn., founded by Jarvis and his wife, Estelle, to rein in property taxes in California. Proposition 13, which limits property tax rates and increases, was passed in 1978, by an overwhelming majority. Protecting it has been the statewide association's goal since the passage. "Howard recognized that we couldn't just pass legislation and walk away," Coupal said.

Laguna Beach will join other California cities in a legal challenge to Proposition 8, which bans the marriage of homosexual couples. The City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday to add its name to the litigation filed by the city and county San Francisco, in which the city of Los Angeles and Santa Clara County are participating. “A lot of us were disappointed about Proposition 8,” said Councilwoman Toni Iseman. Laguna Beach overwhelmingly voted against the proposition in the November election: 8,997-2,244.

A demonstration by the gay community in front of City Hall on Tuesday appeared at first glance to be out of place in Laguna. About 100 opponents of Proposition 8 gathered on the corner of Loma Place and Forest Avenue, waving placards urging the overturn of the state constitutional amendment, which was approved by a majority of voters in November. However, the city is on record in opposition to the proposition that stipulates that only marriages between a man and a woman are valid in California, and only a minority of Laguna voters cast ballots in favor of it. “We came because we heard that supporters of the proposition were going to be here,” one demonstrator said.

Put on your thinking caps -- it's going to be a busy election season this fall for Lagunans. With the City Council setting a Tuesday, Dec. 13 date on the question of whether to increase the city sales tax by one-half cent to raise money for disaster relief, there will be three -- or more -- special elections in the next three months. On Tuesday, Oct. 4, voters will be asked to make their picks for who should fill the 48th District Congressional seat vacated by Chris Cox. A total of 17 candidates are asking for your vote, including 10 Republicans, four Democrats and one each Libertarian, Green and American Independent.

On Tuesday, voters will decide on 8 state initiatives and 4 county measures.A special statewide election will take place Tuesday, Nov. 8. Voters will be asked to decide on eight statewide ballot measures and four county measures concerning a variety of issues, from abortion to union dues to allocation of sales taxes for public safety. Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. For polling place information, call (714) 567-7600 or visit www.ocvote.com. STATEWIDE MEASURES: Proposition 73, Termination of Minor's Pregnancy, would amend the state constitution to require a 48-hour waiting period and parental notification before termination of a minor's pregnancy, with an exception for certain medical emergencies.

Although Orange County voted it down, California voters narrowly passed Proposition 55, which will provide $12.3 billion to California schools to improve facilities, by 50.6%. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's bond measure to bail out the state received much more overwhelming support, with Proposition 57, the $15-billion bond plan to pay off the states deficit, garnering 63.3% and its companion measure, Proposition 58, which would require a balanced budget and rainy day reserve fund garnering 71%. The passage of propositions 57 and 58, were good news for schools as they would clear the way for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposed budget, which spares schools from deep cuts.

It’s typical of my insularity that I wasn’t aware of our local post-election anti-Proposition 8 protest until it had already taken place, and I’m ashamed of that because I should have been there. The proponents of Proposition 8 consider themselves capable of mandating who’s qualified to be married, or more accurately, who isn’t. And according to them, as everyone knows, gays and lesbians aren’t marriage material. I don’t consider myself an expert on much besides baseball and obscure ’60s actors, but I can speak on marriage with some justification because I’ve been married off and on for about 23 years.

The final portion of grant money generated from a proposition passed in 2000 will be going to protect a 56-acre swath of Rim Rock Canyon. The Laguna Canyon Foundation spearheaded the acquisition of the land previously owned by the McGehee family. The $1.5 million-purchase is a partnership with the city of Laguna Beach, the county of Orange, and California Coastal Conservancy. The city owns the land that extends from Temple Hills Drive to Old Top of the World Road and west to Morningside Drive in Rim Rock Canyon, according to a foundation release.

The final portion of grant money generated from a proposition passed in 2000 will be going to protect a 56-acre swath of Rim Rock Canyon. The Laguna Canyon Foundation spearheaded the acquisition of the land previously owned by the McGehee family. The $1.5 million-purchase is a partnership with the city of Laguna Beach, the county of Orange, and California Coastal Conservancy. The city owns the land that extends from Temple Hills Drive to Old Top of the World Road and west to Morningside Drive in Rim Rock Canyon, according to a foundation release.

News that the San Joaquin Hills toll road isn't attracting enough motorists to generate the money to pay off its investors came as no surprise to the community of Laguna Beach. The city was the only community through which the toll road runs to never become a member of the Transportation Corridor Agencies. Local environmentalists predicted in 1988 that the toll road would not meet its financial goals. They fought the construction on environmental, aesthetic and financial grounds.

Southern California Edison has delayed the removal of five of the estimated 100 eucalyptus trees in Bluebird Canyon. The removal, which was scheduled for Thursday, was opposed by environmentalists and irate canyon residents, some of whom appealed to the City Council at Tuesday's meeting to intervene. Although the council took no action, and in fact has no veto power over Edison projects, public opposition resonated with the utility. "Our arborist, David Faasua, is not proceeding until he gets clarification on candidate trees for the historical list and looks into the California Environmental Act form given to Edison," said SCE's regional manager, Steve Nelson.

Two weeks to go into to the election, on a rainy Sunday morning, I walked with a cup of coffee to a chair next to the window trying to make up my mind on three initiatives on the Nov. 2 ballot. I grabbed the travel section of the LA Times, when the "Crazy Beautiful" title and the pictures from Yosemite National Park caught my attention. "Before you begin, let me warn you about something, I am not objective about Yosemite. I can't be, my view has been shaped by more than 50 years of visits," Mark Boster wrote.

The pros and cons of initiatives on the November ballot will be hashed out at two meetings presented by the League of Women Voters. A presentation will be made 10 a.m. today at the Senior Center. A Town Hall Meeting will take place 9:30 a.m. Oct. 16 at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 429 Cypress. Longtime league member Jean Raun organized the meetings. "Because of the Initiative Process in California, every election cycle presents big challenges to the electorate in our state," Raun stated in a news release.

Jon Coupal was among friends May 27 when he was the guest speaker at a Laguna Beach Taxpayers Assn. meeting. Coupal is the president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Assn., founded by Jarvis and his wife, Estelle, to rein in property taxes in California. Proposition 13, which limits property tax rates and increases, was passed in 1978, by an overwhelming majority. Protecting it has been the statewide association's goal since the passage. "Howard recognized that we couldn't just pass legislation and walk away," Coupal said.

The fight to repeal Proposition 8 — which overturned same-sex marriage rights in California in November 2008 — isn’t a matter of if, it’s a matter of when. But exactly when to place another ballot measure before voters has become almost as much of a hot potato as the question itself. The argument rages on among GLBT leaders who passionately agree that Proposition 8 must be overturned at the ballot box. Should it coincide with the November 2010 gubernatorial election, or go to the polls with the 2012 presidential contest?

A demonstration by the gay community in front of City Hall on Tuesday appeared at first glance to be out of place in Laguna. About 100 opponents of Proposition 8 gathered on the corner of Loma Place and Forest Avenue, waving placards urging the overturn of the state constitutional amendment, which was approved by a majority of voters in November. However, the city is on record in opposition to the proposition that stipulates that only marriages between a man and a woman are valid in California, and only a minority of Laguna voters cast ballots in favor of it. “We came because we heard that supporters of the proposition were going to be here,” one demonstrator said.

It’s typical of my insularity that I wasn’t aware of our local post-election anti-Proposition 8 protest until it had already taken place, and I’m ashamed of that because I should have been there. The proponents of Proposition 8 consider themselves capable of mandating who’s qualified to be married, or more accurately, who isn’t. And according to them, as everyone knows, gays and lesbians aren’t marriage material. I don’t consider myself an expert on much besides baseball and obscure ’60s actors, but I can speak on marriage with some justification because I’ve been married off and on for about 23 years.